What Not to Wear (II) (2003– ) User Reviews

Not a commercial and healthily honest..

[candole · 12 August 2005]

Funny and true.. Two fashion journalists help a woman to modernize her style and escape her frumpy wardrobe. A lot of people have written about this show seeing as it has received a lot of press but i would like to clear a few things up, because i feel that a few aspects of the show have been misrepresented...

It's broadcast in England and the rest of Europe, via the BBC. It is dependent on license money and therefore is not allowed to show commercials whatsoever. So if this program really was a commercial they wouldn't have allowed it. The clothes they buy come from a wide variety of shops, from the cheap to not so cheap, but always within budget for most people if they are willing to save some money for quality clothes. Secondly, i have yet to see an episode where they are really out of line. Yes they are very brutal about the clothes. On the other hand they never advise to lose weight or call a plastic surgeon and in this current fitness and diet crazed society which states that every woman above size 14 should lose weight, that can only be seen as a breath of fresh air. Plus, the 'before' clothes are often either hideous or totally unsuitable. Sometimes to the point that i start to think that this part of the show is scripted. This because some clothes were last seen on the high street in the 1980's or look as if they were bought in a hazy and rather drunken moment. They also look at the taste of the woman they are giving advice to and try to tailor their advice to that taste. They probably know that otherwise the new style would make them feel uncomfortable and

uncomfortable is hardly chic.

Definitely recommended as a good watch for people passionate about clothes.

Fan to the bitter end...

[NoKnees · 9/10 · 8 June 2006]

I love this show, both the BBC version and the American version. If you watch, it seems at times they can be a bit bullying, but their point is that you frequently DON'T see yourself for how you really look. However, when someone is truly upset by their comments, and needs support, they will take things into hand, and help them pull through, assuring them that it will be good when all is finished.

Trinny and Susannah have frequently admitted that they are not perfect, to dramatic lengths, allowing various shows to air them at their lest than best.

Stacy and Clinton are so fun and energetic. I adore Clinton's wit. He continually cracks me up.

What not to wear has taught me loads!

[du04 · 10/10 · 6 July 2006]

i love this and have done since it started, Trinny and Susannah are awesome and I can't think of any better two hosts for this show. Their brutal honesty is required in most of their victims cases as they just don't have a realistic idea of what they look like and how they are perceived, which i know shouldn't be an issue,but when you scratch the surface, these people who would appear to not have a care in the world about their appearances are just putting on a front and are actually very insecure about their self image.

Trinny and Susannah give those people back their confidence and help them decided 'What not to wear,' anyone who says this show is cruel needs their head examining, yes the presenters tell it like it is, not to be cruel per say, but in the long run, to help these people which they also do! Everyone comes out looking and feeling much better about themselves and on post show interviews have always said they now love the way they look, which i think is great!

Fantastic!

[stormy_daze · 10/10 · 17 May 2006]

Okay, I won't beat around the bush: these women are rather blunt -- sometimes to the point of sounding rather rude. But, one also must remember they have a very limited time to try to change the styles and looks of people, and they really don't have time to be messing about with pleasantries. They have hundreds of people try to get in, they pick 2, and then they try to fix the problems of the people's clothing overnight. So they don't have time to sit there with a cup of tea talking to someone who's having a tantrum in a dressing room and play psycho-analyst. It's their job to get the people in, make them look fabulous, and then go on to the next set.

They pick the people, go through their lives for a day, then attack their wardrobes. Usually they're content to just binning the rubbish, but once in a while they'll go for a flare for the dramatic -- Susannah set a jacket on fire, once.

I watched this show by accident -- I was waiting for a repeat of something to come on, and this came on instead. I couldn't find anything else to watch, so I watched the whole episode, and while they seem mean at first, once you get to understand their personalities and the way they work, you really sort of just enjoy it and let their comments go. I think either of them should have been stand-up comics -- they're both brilliant.

My favourite quote from Trinny (who's my favourite) is, when finding out that a guest had tried to take some of the binned clothes back out, "Yes, you snuffed through those bags like a pig in truffles." I laughed so hard I nearly cried.

At first I thought they were a bit rough on the people, but one must remember that they have a really limited time to try to turn the clothing style for someone, and that these people came to Trinny and Susannah knowing they can be rough. One must also remember that they are really trying to help the guests, and that sometimes it takes rough words to get someone to listen.

And finally, I shall say this: I've never seen them wrong. Every episode that I have ever seen, the guest walks away looking a million times better than when they came in asking for help. They do know what they're doing, and I think they're brilliant. I've got my Dad hooked on the programme as well. They're fantastic, and I don't watch much TV at all, it's one of about 3 programmes I keep up with.

I know what they would say about my wardrobe!

[cristola · 4 February 2003]

Trinny and Susannah are British fashion writers who secretly observe people (only women that I've seen so far) nominated for wardrobe help by their spouses, friends, co-workers, etc. After some well-intentioned remarks on how poor "Darcy" has fallen into a uniform rut, has lost her sense of her own femininity, etc, our hosts dive in to save the unfortunate soul by giving her advice on colors, styles, body types and so on along with 2000 pounds (US$2500?) with which to buy a substantial clothing infusion. Their "cruel to be kind" pointers do seem to be on target and their favorite tools are a 360 degree mirrored cabinet and hidden cameras.

Good-hearted and brutally honest, Trinny and Susannah seem truly invested in improving the lives of the fashion-challenged of the world. All of the nominees that I've seen were grateful for the help and seemed to have a positively increased sense of poise, self-esteem, and sexuality. Funny and very British, I enjoy this show and am interested to see if the American copycat of the same name coming out soon will be as good.

a very useful show

[yame2001 · 9/10 · 9 October 2006]

The people know what is waiting for them when they go on public display with their clothes and cloakrooms. So it is not a question of embarrassment it is a question of taste - and some of us have taste some don't. I find it very useful to see what clothes and proper styling can achieve in a human being. And let's face it: it IS ALL about outfits and appearance. And: look at the happy faces at the end of the show. At the beginning you can see the masses of people wanting to be in the show - that is not a fake! Men and women are desperate to look good, to be desirable, to be sexy, to make a statement with clothes and styling. All of you who think it is a disgrace to say harsh words to middle-aged women (and men), to make them cry - well, such is life. Nobody else told them that they have looked ridiculous up to now. So , no problems at all with that. Congratulations Suzanna and Trinny!

Refreshingly honest!

[ukexpat-3 · 7 October 2004]

Come on folks you all need to lighten up! Most of the "victims" on this show are in dire need of a makeover and look much better for it when it's over. I, a humble bloke, learned a few things from the Matthew "husband of a previous victim" episode. Sure Trinny & Suzanne can be a little cruel but you have to be cruel to be kind. Most of the victims agree completely when they see the secret footage and the circular mirror. At least one victim gave as good a she got and basically ignored the "rules"...

The TLC version of this show (like all US imitations of great British shows) just pales by comparison -- why do they bother? So I say to BBC America, "keep'em coming"...